Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-12
K N G
Solomon 5 Mines.

with some twenty Thousand men arranged
In regiments around it. The regiments
were in turn divided into companies, and
between each company was a little path to
allow free passage to the witch-iinders to
pass up and down. Anything more imposing
than the sight that was presented by this
vast and orderly c0ncourse of armed men it
was impossible to conceive. There they
stood perfectly silent, and the bright moon
light poured its light upon the forest of their
raised spears, upon their majestic forms,
waving plumes, and the harmonious shading
of their various cOlored shields. Wherever
we looked was line upon line of set faces
surmounted by range upon range of glitter
ing spears
Surely" / said to Infadoos, ''the whole
army is herep'
NAY, Macumazahn'' he answered, ''but
third part Of it. One-third is present at this
dance each year, another third part is must
cred outside in case there should be trouble
when killing begins, ten thousand more gar
rison the outposts round Loo, and the rest
watch at the kraalS i'll the country Thou
seest it is very great people,"
They are very SILENT" said Good; and in
deed the intense stiffness among such vast
cOncouEe of living men Was almost over
powering.
What says Bougwan?" asked Infadoos.
translated.
"ThOSe over whom the shadow of Death is
lowering are SILENT" he answered grimly.
''Will many be killed."
VERY many"
ut seems" | said to the others, that we
are going to assist at gladiatOrial show ar
ranged regardless of expense"
Sir Henry shivered, and Good said that he
wished we could get out of it.
TELL me-" l asked Infadoos, ''are we in
danger?'
81 know not, my lords, trust not; but do
not be afraid. If We live through the night
all may go well. The soldiers murmur
against the king"
All this while we had been advancing
steadily toward the center of the open space,
in the midst of which were placed some
stools. AS we proceeded we perceived an
other small party coming from the direction
of the royal hut.
lit IS the king, Twala, and Scragga, his
son, and GagoOl the old, and see, with them
are those who Slay,'' and he pointed to a
little group of about q dozen gigantic and
strengthening men, armed with spears in
one hand and clubs in the other.
The king seated himself upon the center
stool, Gagool crouched at his feet and the
others stood behind.
Greeting, white lords" he cried, as we
came up; ''be seated, waste not the precious
time-tl9 night is all too short for the deeds
Mat must be done. Ye come in good hour,
and shall see a glorious show. Look round
white lords look round" and lie rolled his
one wicked eye from regiment to regiment.
Can the stars show We such sight as this?
See how they shake in their WickedneSs, ali
those who have evil in their hearts and fear
the Judgment of heaven abOve.'"
Begin! begin!' cried out GagoOl in her
thin, piercing voice; ''the hyenas are hungry
they howl for food. Begin begnI'
Then for moment there was intense still
ness made horrible by presage of what
was to come
The king lifted his spear, and suddenly
twenty thousand feet We're raised as though
they belonged to one man, and brought
down with stamp upon the earth. This
was repeated three times, causing the solid
ground 10 shake and tremble. Then from a
far point of the circle solitary voice began
wailing song, of which the refrain rang
something as follows:
What is the lot of man born of wOman?"
Back came the answer rolling out from
every throat in the vast company:
''DeathP'
Gradually, however, the song was taken
up by company after company, till the whole
armed multitude was singing it, and L could
no longer follow the words, except in so far
as they appeared to represent various phases
of human passions fears, and joys. Now it
seemed to be love-song, now a majestic
swelling war-chant, and last of all death
ending " aort hraa L ipo
wall that went echoing and rolling away in
volume of blood-curdling sound. Again
the silence fell upon the place, and again it
was broken by the king lifting up his hand.
Instantly there was pattering of feet, and
from out of the masses of the warriors
strange and awful figures came running to-
ward us. AS they drew near we saw that
they were those of women, most of them
aged for their white hair, ornamented with
small bladderS taken from fish, Streamed out
behind them. Their faces were painted in
stripes of white and yellow; down their
backs hung snake-skins, and round their
waists ratified circets of human bones, while
each held In her Shriveled hand small
forked wand. In all there were ten of
I them. When they arrived in front of us
SSEEsey halted, and one of them pointing with
her wand toward the crouching figure of Ga
cool, cried out: $500
''Mother, old mother we are here"
''Good! goodI goodW piped out that aged
iniquity. Are your eyes keen, isanusis''
witch doetreSses), I'VE seers in dark pla-
ceS?'
Mother, they are keen"
Good good! goodI Are your ears open,
isanusis, We who hear words that come not
from the tongue|'
Mother they are OPEN"
Good! good! good! Are your senses
awake, isanusis-ca can We smell blood, can ye
purge the land Of the wicked ones who COM
pass evil against the king and their neigh
bors? Are We ready to do justice of Heaven
above, We whom [ have taught, who have
eaten of the bread Of my wisdom and drank
of the water of my magicw
''Mother, we cam
''Then go! larry not, We vultures; see the
slayers, pointing to the ominous group of
executoners behind; make sharp their
spears; the white men from afar are hungry
to see. Co."
With wild yell the weird party broke